Apparatus fob casting chain-links



W. P. GUNNlNGHAM. I APPARATUS FOR CASTING CHAIN LINKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. I918.

. Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

. UNITED STAT PENT OFFICE. 1

WILLIAM P. CUNNINGHAM, OF NORRIST OWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING CHAIN-LINKS.

Application filed November 29, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM P. CUN- NINGI-IAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norristown, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Chain-Links, of which th following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to improve the method of making continuous chains, especially the type known as anchor chains, but it will be understood that the invention can also be used in the manufacture of ordinary link chains.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of molds, one mold being a duplicate of the other and assembling these molds in such a manner that a continuous chain can be produced.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a flask, showing the patterns in position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the flask;

Fig. 3 is asect-ional view of the mold made in the flask illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 1 is a sectional View illustrating a series of the molds arranged end to end for casting a continuous chain.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a bottom board to which is secured the pattern 2. which is the pattern of one-half of one of the links to be cast, the division being on a longitudinal line. are two quarter sections of patterns for two adjoining links. These quarter sections are arranged at right angles to the half section 2, as clearly shown in the drawings. Each of these quarter section patterns is made in two parts 5 and 6. The part 6 is curved and forms one-half of the end of one of the links. This part has a projecting pin 7 which enters a hole in the board 1 so as to retain it in position. the other section 5 of the pattern 4 has a portion 8 which is onequarter of the pattern of a connecting web, which is present in substantially all anchor chains. This section has a perforation and the section 6 is perforated in line with the perforation in the section 5 for the reception of a pin 9, which extends through the wall of the flask 3 through the section 5 and into the section 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This arrange- Specification of Letters Patent.

3 is the flask and 4. 4.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Serial No. 264,611.

present instance, I have shown patterns 10 and 11 for the gates of the mold. The patterns 10 lead to each of the quarter section links e, while the pattern 11 leads to the half section 2. Any suitable means may be provided for retaining these patterns in place. These patterns 10 and 11 are preferably removable so that the chain pattern can be used for the bottom sections, as well as the top.

The pattern :2. as hereinbefore stated, forms one-half of a link and has a portion 12 forming one-half of the web extending between the side members of the link. Vhen the patterns are assembled. as in Fig. 1. the sand is ran'mied around the several patterns, including the patterns for the gates and when the patterns are withdrawn from the mold, the mold, as illustrated in Fig. 3, has a cavity a for the longitudinal half of a link and two cavities 7) for the quarter sections of two adjoining links. The several half sections of the mold are then assembled. some of the sections being arranged end for end, while others are arranged side by side. as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this construction. the pouring openings are preferably only in the upper half sections.

Any suitable device may be used for holding these sections in posit-ion and such a device is fully illustrated in an application for patent filed by me on August 30, 1918, under Ser. No. 252.118. but it will be understood that holding devices may be used without departing from the essential features of the invention.

The molds can be placed one after another in position and the metal can be progressively poured so that a continuous chain is formed, the length of the chain depending upon the number of sections that are placed in line, one after another.

I claim:

The combination in apparatus for making a mold for casting continuous chains, of a bottom board; a half section of a link pattern secured to the said board; two patterns of quarter sections of the link mounted vertically; one being located at one end of the flask and the other at the opposite end and extending over the ends of the patformed and when a Series of these mold tern of the half link, each quarter section sections is arranged side by side and end being made in two parts; and means for for end a mold for a complete series of en- 1e holding the parts together and to the flask chained links is formed.

so that when the sand is rammed around In witness whereof I affix nry signature. the pattern, and the pattern is withdrawn, a mold for a section of enehained links is WILLIAM I CUNNINGHAM. 

